.Says, no recession in Imo
By Valentine Amanze
Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha, has commenced the disbursement of N1 billion loan to women in the 3,500 wards in the state as part of his empowerment programme.
Already, 3,500 women out of 10,000 targeted for the programme received their chegue of N100,000 each on Monday, March 20, 2017 at the Imo International Convention Centre, Owerri.
While handing over some of the beneficiaries their cheques, Okorocha said that the women empowerment programme was one of his election promises, adding that he was happy that he has kept the election promises made to the people of the state.
Ten women were selected from each of the 3,500 wards, while the rest were chosen following other considerations.
The governor said, “Today we have come to further drive away poverty in Imo State by empowering 10,000 women in a whole and 3,500 in this first phase. Ten women per ward will be getting N100,000 each which is meant for business and will be returned after a while. Those who returned their loan will be given double of the initial money. It is my responsibility to provide for Imo people who surrendered their right of vote to me as their governor.
“This is what I am dramatizing today.
“This is not the first time we are embarking on empowerment programme; we donated N500 million to the Niger Delta Women and Youths as part of our empowerment programme not long ago amongst other empowerments.
“One of the greatest empowerment I have offered to Imo people is the free education which has enabled our women save money which would have been used for school fees. I have said this to Imo people, you are aware that the song going on in the country is the music of recession, but I have refused to sing this song of recession and I have continued to say that there is no recession in Imo State, the song of poverty shall never be sang in Imo State. Hence, you are seeing work going on around the state day and night and we are equally embarking on empowerments when other states are crying of lack of funds.”
He disclosed that traditional rulers would serve as guarantors to the women to ensure that the right people get the loan and he also encouraged the women to utilise the money as the fund, if put into good use can change their lives for good”.
The governor’s wife, Nneoma Nkechi Okorocha, prayed that that loan would turn thousands of women into full time entrepreneurs in the years to come while most of them who benefited from the empowerment would in the future turn into women who will reposition the state to greater height.
She thanked the governor for putting smiles on the faces of Imo women whom she said would never abandon the rescue mission government.